Printing telegraph apparatus



Aug; 15, 1944. R. A. LAKE PRINTING TELEGRAPH APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Sept. 20, 1941 v: N: w:

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5N N: 5 v3 0mm 09 mvm INVENTOR. ROSSA.LAKE

ATTORNEY.

Aug. 15, 1944.

R. A. LAKE PRINTING TELEGRAPH APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 20,1941 ATTORNEY.

Afig. 15, 1944. R. A. LAKE PRINTING TELEGRAPH APPARATUS File d Sept. 20,1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. R058 A. LAKE TI'ORNEY:

Patented Aug. 15, 1944 PRINTING TELEGRAPH APPARATUS Ross A. Lake, OakPark, Ill., assignor to Teletype Corporation,,Chicago, 111., acorporation of Delaware Application September 20, 1941, Serial No.411,660 7 14 Claims.

This invention relates to printing telegraph apparatus and moreparticularly to signal record-- ing and repeating apparatus andswitching mechanism controlled thereby.

An object of this invention is to provide telegraph apparatus which willreceive and store telegraph signal combinations, record the charactersrepresented thereby, and redistribute the signal combinations to otherlocations.

Another object of this invention is to provide a unitary machineincluding a signal responsive printer, a reperforator, a tape sensingdevice, and transmitting and switching mechanisms.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved stripcontrolled apparatus operable to render a switching mechanismselectively responsive to a control strip.

In communication systems, particularly those in which messages mayoriginate in any of a number of substations to be transmitted to certainof the remaining substations, it is frequently the practice to transmitthe message to a central ofiice for rerouting or retransmission to thedesired substation. In such a system, the message is generally stored asit is received, preferably in a record tape, until the necessaryretransmission channels are selected and conditioned. The retransmissionchannels are generally conditioned manually through plugs and jacks orsemi-automatically through relay circuits. After the message channelsare established, the stored message is applied thereto and transmitteddirectly to the desired substation, if a through connection isavailable, or to a further central office for relaying tothe desiredsubstation. At each message relaying point or central ofiice, there isprovided a message receiving and storing mechanism, such as areperforator, manually or relay operated switching mechanism forestablishing message channels, and a message redistributor, such as atape transmitter, adapted to be associated with the determined channels.

This invention features a telegraph apparatus which may be utilized incommunication systems to facilitate and expedite message transmissionbetween substations and which includes within one compact unit aprinting reperforator, a transmitter and entirely automatic switchingmechanism. Telegraph signal combinations received by this apparatus arerecorded in a control tape and a sensing device senses the tape andconditions a retransmitting distributor in accordance with the receivedsignal combinations to retransmit the message. The switching mechanismof this apparatus also operates under the control of th tape and thesensing device in response to switching signal combination received fromthe originating substation ahead 'of the message signal combinations toestablish the necessary communication channels to direct the message tothe desired substation.

This invention also features a device included in the telegraphapparatus to render the'switching mechanism selectively operable; thatis, to enable the switching mechanism when switching signal combinationsare being sensed by the sensing device, and to disable the switchingmech anism when message signal combinations are being sensed.

Communication systems employing apparatus which embody features of thisinvention may operate rapidly and automatically to relay a message froman originating substation to the desired substation. For such automaticoperation a series of switching signal combinations istransmitted fromthe originating substation to establish the necessary communicationchannels to the desired substation through the operation of theautomatic switching mechanism. Thereafter, message signal combinationsfrom the originating substation are directed over the establishedchannels to the desired substations.

The apparatus for accomplishing the aboveenumerated objects of thisinvention includes a printing reperforator, a sensing or transmittingdevice, a transmitting distributor and an auto: matic switching device.Code signal combinations received by this apparatus condition theprinting reperforator to store the received signal combinations andprint the character represented thereby on a control strip. The printingreperforator includes a pre-punch unit to prepare feed holes in thestrip and this pre-punch unit is operated concomitantly with the codeperforating unit from a cam sleeve mechanically released for a singlerevolution by the printing unit operating bail in each cycle ofrotationof a selecting cam drum. The cam sleeve is adapted to be manuallyreleased, independently of the printer, for continuous rotation to feeda desired length of the tape or control strip through the operation ofthe feeding devices of the perforating units. The tape path through thereperforator is disposed at an angle to the code punches to enable thecode punches to perform a shearing operating in perforating the tape.From the reperforator, the control strip passes into the sensing ortransmitting device to control that device in accordance with receivedsignal combinations stored in the tape.

contact operating lever of a cam type transmit-1 ting distributor andthe code vanes when they have received a setting of the sensing device,es-

tablish the setting on the contacts of the distributor so that thesignal is retransmitted by the distributor while the sensing device isperforming the next succeeding sensing operation and through thisarrangement signal overlap is provided. The code vanes conditionautomatic switching mechanisms as well as the transmitting distributorto perform switching functions responseto received switching signalcombinations. 7 1 r The automatic switching mechanisms include aplurality of switching function levers having code notches which inresponse to the permutable setting of the code vanes permit selectiveoperation of the switching mechanisms. In order to restrict theoperation of the switching mechanisms to only those settings of the codevanes that represent a switching signal combination, a device comprisinga plurality of control bars serves to hold the switching function leversnormally nonresponsive to the settings of the code vanes. When aswitching operation is to be performed, a predetermined sequence ofsignal combinations is set up in the code vanes by the control strip andthis sequential conditioning of the code vanes is effective to operatethe blocking device and render the switching function levers responsiveto subsequent settings of the code levers. .After the desired switchingfunctions have been accomplished, the control tape establishes apredetermined condition in the code vanes that restores the deviceintoblocking relation with respect to the switching function leversrendering them nonresponsive to the subsequent settings of the codevanes that relay the message signals over the determined communicationchannels through the agency of the transmitting distributor.

The sensing or transmitting device has a tape out pin that is operatedcyclically with the code sensing pins to interrupt the operation of thetransmitter at a predetermined point in message signaling, as determinedby a special perforation in the tape, or when the tape supply is brokenor exhausted. The transmitter is also equipped with a tape feedsuppression device operable to arrest the tape feed through thetransmitter so that a given signal combination may be transmittedseveral times in succession.

The pivoted transmitter is movable with the tape and when there is apredetermined length of tape intermediate the transmitter andreperforator a locking device, which serves to form this length of tapeinto a depending loop, locks the transmitter rendering it immovable withrespect to the reperforator. Under the continuous operation of thetransmitter, this length of tape will eventually be shortened andfinally the tape will engage the locking device and move it out oftransmitter to approach the reperforator to sense every code combinationin the tape.

In the back-spacing operation of this apparatus, the transmitter isdrawn by the tape toward the reperforator. A disabling lever carried onthe pivoted transmitter engages and disables the back-spacing mechanismas the transmitter approaches abutting relationship with thereperforator so that further operations of the backspacing mechanism areineffective on the tape. Disabling the back-spacing mechanism preventsoperations after the transmitter has reached the limit of its travel.

engagement with the transmitter permitting the 75 Many features includedin the disclosure of the present application are also disclosed in c0-pending applications Serial No. 411,665 filed September 20, 1941 by M.T. Goetz and Serial No. 412,829 filed September 29, 1941 by E. A.Gubisch. For a more complete understanding of the foregoing objects andfeatures of this invention, reference may be had to the followingdetailed description which is to be interpreted in the light of theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view partly in section of a portion of a telegraphapparatus embodying the features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of Fig. 1; i v

, Fig. 3 is a view taken on section lines 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view, partly in section, of the apparatusof Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a detailed View of the tape feed suppression mechanism of thetransmitter;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the punch block;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on lines 1--'| of Fig. 1;v

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detailed view of the backspacing mechanism in theprinting reperforator;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the cognizance device;

Fig. 10 is a front elevational view of the cognizance device; and

Fig. 11 is a schematic view of the transmitter control circuit.

The apparatus disclosed in the drawings embodies the several features ofthis invention and may be considered as including theffollowingprincipal units and associated driving mechanisms; a printingreperforator unit 16, a tape sensing unit I1, a transmitting distributorl8, and an automatic switching device I9, The several units aresupported by a base casting 2|.

Printing reperforator The printing reperforator [6 included in theapparatus under consideration is substantially the same as that printingreperforator which is the subject of a copending application filed inthe name of Ross A. Lake, Serial No. 274,796 filed May 20, 1939 and fora more complete understanding of the structure and mode of operation ofthis unit, reference maybe had to the aforementioned copendingapplication which is incorporated herein by reference. Since the unitunder consideration is substantially the same as that disclosed'in theabove-identified copending application, the description of thatmechanism to be set out hereinafter will be of a general nature and willbe detailed only in the description of those features of the presentunit which are different from features in the above-identified copendingapplication.

A printing platen 22 is located in the front and central portion of thereperforator and an inking ribbon 23 is directed therover in well-knownmanner from ribbon supply reels 25 (only one of which is shown). Aplurality of type bars 24, Fig. 4 (only one of which is illustrated), ispositioned in an arcuate path about and to the rear of the printingplaten 22 and are articulated to their supports in a manner to permittheir striking forwardly and downwardly into cooperation with the platento effect printing. A plurality of pull bars 26 (only one of which isshown) is assembled to the rear of the type bars 24 and is adapted tooperate the type bars through a gear and rack connection (not shown).The .pull bars are normally urged against a series of notched code bars21 which are semi-circular in shape and which may be conditioned invarious permutable settings by means of a selector mechanism 28, Fig. 1,of the sword and. T-lever type, shown in U. S. Patent No. 1,745,633, tobring into alignment the notches on the code surfaces so that the pullbars may be individually selected for operation. A driving motor 29carries on its shaft 3| a gear 32 which meshes with a gear 33 carried onthe main shaft 34 of the reperforator to drive thereperforatingmechanisrn; a selecting cam sleeve (not shown) is rotatablysupported upon shaft 34 and is adapted to be driven therefrom through asuitable friction or slip clutch.

A receiving magnet (not shown) is adapted to be conditioned in responseto received line signals to release the friction clutch and cause therotation of the selecting cam sleeve from driving shaft 34 in a mannerset out in detail in the afore-mentioned patent. The cam sleeve isthereupon rotated at a speed substantially synchronous with the speed ofthe code impulsing so that the energization of the receiving magnet inresponse to marking and spacing code signals may be effective throughthe selector 28 to condition the individual code bars 21 in a clockwiseor counterclockwise direction in accordance with a received code signalcombination. The permutable setting of the code bars 21 results in theselection of one particular pull bar 26, de-

pending upon the alignment of the code notches in code bars 21, and withthe selection thus determined the code bars are locked during theprinting operation by means of a locking bar 36,

of the printing bail 31, Figs. 1 and 4, as it is raised and lowered. Theprinting bail 31 is suitably articulated to a bail operating plunger 38,Fig. '1, slidably mounted within a guide sleeve 39, and plunger 33 iscontrolled by means of a cam (not shown) on the main shaft 34. Theprecise operation of the printing mechanism including bail 31 from themain shaft 34 is set out in detail in said afore-mentioned patent.

When the bail 31 is in its lowermost position under the control ofplunger 38, it cooperates with beveled surfaces 41, Fig. 4, on theplurality of pull bars 26 to hold the pull bars out of engagement withcode bars 21 so that the code bars may be readily shifted in accordancewith the operation of the selector mechanism 28 under the control ofreceived code signal impulses. When the printing bail 31 is operatedupwardly to perform the printing operation, the bars 26 and 36 due totheir cam surfaces 4| are permitted to be actuated gradually toward thecode bars 21 by their individual springs. Pull bars 26 are provided witha hook projection 42 which cooperates with the printing bail 31 when apull bar is permitted by the alignment of notches in the code bars 21 tobe operated by its biasing spring into the path of bail 31 which in itsupward movement engages hook projection 42 to lift the pull bar, andthrough the rack and pinion engagement with the type bar causes the typebar to rotate about its pivot and bring the type face downwardly toimpinge upon platen 22. The locking bar 36 is not provided with a hookportion since its function is merely to rock on its pivot into and outof locking engagement with code bar's121'under the control of bail 31 toretain the permutable setting of the code bars during the printingoperation. 'For a more comprehensive and detailed description of theprinting operation performed by the printing reperforator, reference maybe had to the aforesaid Patent No. 1,745,633 which is specificallydirected to a printing mechanism of the type incorporated in theprinting reperforator unit.

For the purpose of controlling code punches in the reperforatingoperation to record the code combination in a tape as well as print thecorresponding character on the tape, there is provided a plurality ofbell cranks 46, Figs. 1 and 4, one associated with each code bar andpivotally supported upon a stud 41 which is mounted in a supportingplate 43 secured to the frame of the reperforating unit. Each of thebell cranks 46 is provided with a projecting finger 49 adapted tooverlap the locking bar 36 and be operated thereby to position the bellcranks 46 in a counterclockwise direction as the bar 36 under theinfluence of bail 31 is cammed out of looking engagement with code bars21 preparatory to conditioning the code bars in accordance with areceived code signal combination. The bell cranks are biased in aclockwise direction and each is provided with a shoulder portion 5|which performs a sensing operation on the associated code bars 21 whenlooking bar 36 under the con.- trol of bail 31 is moved into the lockingnotch 35 releasing the bell cranks to respond to their clockwise bias.If a code bar is in its counterclockwise position, as indicated in Fig.1, the shoulder portion 5| of the associated bell crank 46 will be clearof the code bar and when locking bar 36 responds to the bail 31 andenters locking notch 35 as shown, the bell crank 46 will be permitted toassume its clockwise position. However, in the event that a'code bar isin its extreme clockwise position, locking bar 36 would engage thealternate locking notch on the particular code bar and that bar would bepositioned in the path of its associated bell crank 46 so that whenlooking bar 36 has moved into engagement with the alternate lockingnotch 35 releasing the particular bell crank 46 for rotation, thatrotation will be restrained. Accordingly, through the cooperation of theindividual code bars 21 and the blocking shoulders 5! of the bell cranksassociated with the particular code bars, the permutable setting of thecode bars is transferred to the plurality of bell cranks 46 when thosebell cranks are permitted to sense the position of the codebars aslooking bar 36 is moved into a locking notch 35.

The frontward portion of supporting plate 48 as viewed in Fig. l, isslotted to provide a comblike structure which guides a plurality ofvertically disposed pivoted levers 52 which are pivotally supported upona stud 53, Fig. 4, carried in support member 48. The levers 52 which areguided by the comb portion of member 48 project into the path ofoperation of bell cranks 46 andeach lever 52 is controlled by one of thebell cranks 46. The lower ends of levers 52 cooperate with and control aseries of hell cranks 54 pivoted on a pivot shaft 55 secured to thecasting 63. Bell cranks 54, in turn, extent beneath the horizontalportion of a second set of bell cranks 56 pivoted on shaft 51 supportedin the perforator casting 63. The bell cranks 56 are normally urged in aclockwise direction by means of individual springs 60 which springs alsoserve through the engagement of bell cranks 56, bell cranks 54, pivotedlevers 52, and bell cranks 46 to impart a clockwise bias on'each of thebell cranks 46. Pivotally articulated to the vertical arms of bellcranks 56 are a plurality of punch interponents 58. Interponents 58 areguided by a comb out in a flanged portion 6| of a cradle member 62pivotally supported by the casting 63 of the printing reperforator andserving as the punch operator as will appear hereinafter. The pivot forcradle member 62 is in substantial alignment with the pivotal connectionbetween the interponent members 58 and 'the vertical arms of bell cranks56. This pivot point is indicated 64. Through the mechanical linkageabove described, each permutable setting of the code bars 21 istransferred when looking bar 36 assumes its locking relation withrespect to the code bars, to the interponents 58 to permutably conditionthe interponents with respect to code punches 66, Fig. 4.

' Locking bar 36, in being retracted from a locking notch 35 preparatoryto setting up a signal combination in code bars 21, rocks bell cranks 46in a counterclockwise direction and through the mechanical linkagedescribed, similarly rocks bell cranks 56 and advances all interponents58 leftwardly. After the code bars have been set, locking bar 36releases bell cranks 46 permitting the interponents 58 to be selectivelymoved from their normal, leftward position. If any of the bell cranklevers 46 is held in its counterclockwise position by the engagement ofits looking shoulder with its associated code bar 21, the correspondinginterponent 58 through the mechanical linkage above described isretained in its leftward position in alignment with its code punch 66.However, if a bell crank 46 is permitted to assume its clockwiseposition by its associated code bar 21, its spring 60 is effective toshift its associated interponent 58 to its right,- ward position asillustrated in Fig. 4 and out of alignment with punches 66. Theconnection between the selector mechanism 28 and code bars 21 is suchthat when a marking impulse is received a code bar is moved to itsclockwise position, the associated interponent 58 is retained inalignment with its code punch 66 and conversely, when a code bar ispositioned in its counterclockwise position in response to the receptionof a space impulse, its associated interponent is shifted from itsnormal position and moved out of alignment with its associated codepunch.

" A punch block 61, Fig. 4, secured to the reperforator casting issuitably apertured to receive in a slidab-le manner the code punches 66which project through the punch block and a guide comb 68. The punches66 are flattened or hammered out at their lower extremities to providesuitable shoulders beneath comb 68 so that as cradle 62 is rocked in acounterclockwise direction, comb 68 may withdraw punches 66 to theirlowermost positions.

The front surface 69, Fig. 6, of the punch !block is at an angleinclined to the vertical for a purpose which will be hereinafterdescribed, and the top surface 1| is at an acute angle with respect tothe axes of the punch to provide an inclined path for a tape through thepunch block. The front surface 69 of the punch block is chamfered backto the apertures 18 which accommodate the code punches'to preventaccumulation of tape chips over the code punches. The punch elements 66may be associated with the punch block 61 in much the same manner asdisclosed in detail in the above-identified copending application andthat detail'will not be repeated here.

Disposed above th punch block 61 is a die plate 12 and there is providedin the die plate a die sector for each code punch located in punch block61. The die sectors are similar to the die openings described in detailin the above-identified copending application and illustrated inparticular in Fig. 6 thereof at 61, the construction being such that thecooperation of a die punch with such a die opening will produce a liddedaperture in the tape. The bottom surface of die plate 12 is cut at suchan angle that, when the die plate is assembled into a punching unit withpunch block 61, the lower surface thereof will define with the uppersurface 11 of the punch block, a tape guideway 13 for directing a tapeto, be perforated at an angle to the top surface of the code punches 66.With this construction, the lidded aperture is provided in the tapethrough a shearing rather than a blanking operation; that is, with thetape lying at an angle across the top surface of a code punch, as thepunch is elevated in the perforating stroke into cooperating engagementwith the die plate 12, the punch, due to the incline of the die plate,initially blanks a small sector in the tape and, as the punch is furtheradvanced into the die plate, the punch and die plate. engage along aninclined shearing plate to produce a perforation.

A lidded apertureis produced in the tape with each perforating operationand because of the angular relationship of the tape and code punches,the lagging edge of the lid is forced well above the tape web and intothe die plate while the neck of the lid is not raised appreciably. Aplurality of stripper pins 14 is provided to remove the lids'from thedie plate at the end of each perforating cycle. Secured to each stripperpin 14 is a deflecting blade 15 effective during the back spacingoperation in a manner to be described hereinafter. Secured to the dieplate 12 is a pivot pin 16 upon which is pivotally supported a pluralityof spring operated levers 11 operated by compression springs 18 todepress the stripper or ejector pins 14 at the end of each perforatingcycle and eject the lids from the die plate. The compression springs 18are he d between a frame member 16 secured to die plate 12 and aprojecting lug extending from each of the levers 11. In each perforatingcycle, the operated code punches 66 project into the sector openingsprovided in die plate 12 and force the stripper pins 14 upwardly and atthe completion of the perforating cycle, the code punches 66 areretracted from the die plate by comb 68 rendering the levers 11operative under the influence of springs 18 to depress the ejector pins14 and eject the lids from the die plate.

A feed wheel 8|, Fig. 4, provided with'sprocket teeth to engage feedperforations in the tape and feed the tape through the perforatingmechanism, is rotatably supported within the punch block on a shaft 82,Fig. 1 and is stepped intermittently by'means of a feed pawl .83 whichis supported by cradle member 62 and engages a feed ratchet 84 with eachoperation of the .cradle 62 in a wellknown manner. See copendingapplication filed by Erwin A. Gubisch, Serial No. 412,829; filed onSept. 29, 1941 and directed in part to the feed wheel located within thepunch block. A spring pressed detent 85 is provided to bear against theratchet and hold the feed wheel immovable between feeding strokes of thepawl 83.

A pre-punch unit is provided to perforate a feed hole in the tape priorto the code perfora ing operation and comprises a feed punch SI, Figs; 1and 4:, which is adapted to be reciprocated vertically in a feed holepunch block S2 by means of a bell crank 93 pivoted on stud shaft 94 andprovided with a fork shaped extension member 96; the tines of whichengage beneath the flared upper end of the punch 9| and confine the headof the punch between the fork member and the bell crank so that thepunch is recipr-ocated as the bell crank is oscillated about pivot 96;Feed pins 98 are'secured to a shaft 91 rotatably supported in thepre-punch unit and provided'at one end" with milled ratchet teeth 98 tobe engaged by a feed pawl l'fil to intermittently advance the pins 98and cause the feed of the tape by the engagement of pins 93 with thefeed perforations invariably provided in the tape by the pre-punch M. 'Astar wheeliiik and detent, #53 are provided for holding the feed shaftinter mediate the feeding strokes of pawl It I. A spring pressed guideH34, Fig. lfof the general contour of shaft 931' presses the tapeagainst the feed pins to assure positive tape feed from the pre-punc'nin the direction'of the printing platen and code perforating point. I

By providing a pre-punch for perforating feed holes in the'tapeandindependent feeding mechanisms at both the pre-punch and codepunching units, it is possible to vary the position of the code holeswith respect to the feed holes in the tape. That is, with the feed holesalready prepared in the tape the 'detent 85 associated with feed wheel8| may be adjusted so that each operation of feed pawl 83 positions afeed hole in or out of alignment with code punches 66. Thus the codeperforations and feed hole perforations may or may not be alignedtransversely of the tape.

The code erforating punches and pre-punch are operated from a commonoperating means which is controlled by a perforating shaft I06 journaledin suitable bearings I01 and driven by motor 29 through a gear I08secured'to shaft 34 and in engagement with a gear I09 secured to shaftI86. The bearings ID! are carried by supporting members which dependfrom the, base casting 2| and support shaft I06 beneath the horizontalsection of the frame casting and transversely of the printingreperforator. Secured to shaft I86 to rotate therewith is the drivingelement II I of a positive or grab clutch which is adapted to be engagedby adriven element I II2,to impart driving force to the perforatingunit. The driven element of the clutchis slidably carried upon shaft I06and normally urged into engagement with drim'ng element III by meansof acompression spring I I3 but normally held from engagement with thedriving portion of the clutch by meansof a clutch throwout. cam H4formed on: the periphery of the driven element II 2 Ofnthe clutch whichis normally .in engagement with a clutch throwout' lever IIB pivotallysupported on a shaft I I1. Clutch throwout lever H6 is normally heldinto the path of the clutch throwout cam H4 by -means of a spring H8,Fig. secured to a spring stud I19 on the throwout clever and a portionof the frame. A cam sleeve I2I is adapted to. be driven through asplined connection from the driven ortion of the clutch when the clutchis engaged and a grooved cam I23 is driven or carried .by. the sleeveI21 and through a follower roll [24 operates a pivoted lever I26 pivotedat I21 to the base casting 2|. Lever 126 has articulated thereto in apivotal manner a :link l3l, Fig. 4, which is pivotally connected to theoperator of the pre-punch 9I. Pivoted code punch hammer 62 :is urged bymeans of a spring I30 secured thereto and to a spring post dependingfrom base casting 2'] toward the frontward extremity of pivoted leverI26 and carries an adjustable stop member I28 extending from dependingportion I29 of hammer 62 into abutting relation with lever I26.-

Link I31 is pivotally connected to three-arm lever I32 which carries aneccentric I34 on arm I 33, and the eccentric provides an adjustableengagement between lever I32 and the bell crank '93 of the pre-punchjFeed pawl IOI for the prepunch is adjustably secured to arm I36 of thelever I32 by means of an eccentric so that the feed stroke maybeadjusted. Through the engagement of abutment I28 with lever I'26 and thelinkage from pivoted lever 126 to lever I32, the

code punchesand. the pre-punch are operated witheach oscillation ofivoted lever 126 under the control of grooved cam I 23. i

"As has already been pointed out, the selector mechanism 28 whichcontrols the code bars -21 conditions in this one operation both theprinting mechanism through the alignment of the code notches in the codebars 2-! and the code punches through the conditioning of punchinterponents 58, and means hasbeen provided for carrying out theprinting and perforating operations concomitantly as follows: A'depending member I31, Fig. "7, is threadedly secured to the plunger 38which operates bail 31 and has pivotally articulated to it a mechanicallinkage to trip the clutch throwout lever 116 which permits theengagement of the driving clutchto drive the cam sleeve I21. mechanicallink, indicated 139,-is pivoted to member I31 by astud I38. The link I39carries a hook-shaped extremity which is. normally positioned into thepath of a leftwardly extending projection of the clutchgthrowout leverH6, as'viewed in Fig 7, and is retained in this position by means of abiasing spring MI and a limiting stop pin M2 carried upon member I 31.Accordingly, as the plunger 38 is elevated in the course of the printingcycle, the hook projection of member I39 engases the clutch throwoutlever I13 and rocks it in a clockwise direction about pivot 1:11 torelease the driven element H2 of the clutch so that compression springH3 is effective to place clutch elements III and I12 into engagement andcause the rotation of cam sleeve I21 and the consequent operation of theperforating mechani-sms concomitant with the operation of the printingunit. .-A continuous tape guide 143, Fig. 4, extends from the feed pins98 at the .pre-punch unitto the printing platen- 22 to serve as a guidefor the tape and revent the: tape from becoming. en-

This guide for the "sake of a better understandingof the perforatingmechanism has been omit- .ted from Fig. 1. A similar guide IMdirects thetape from a supply into thepre-punch unit. By

providing individual tape feeding mechanisms at :both. the pre-punchunit and the code punch :unit, a tape loop may be maintained between.the units and supported by guide I43. This tape .loop. removes the dragof the tape. supply reel :from the feeding mechanism at the codeperiforating unit and consequently greatly reduces .the. tape loadatthis point. Furthermore, since .the'feed pawl at the code punch unit maybe se- :cured'to. the cradle member 62 in an adjustable manner similartothe articulation of the feed pawl at the re-punch unit to its operator,there isgiven a flexibility to the printing reperforator .not otherwiseattainable through the use of a .single tape feeding device.

Tape feed out mechanism the base castingv 2| is inalignment with theprojection I46 offltheclutch throwout lever] I6 so that when the plungerI41 is manually operated, the clutch throwout lever .I I6 may be heldaway from clutch throwoutcam II4 against the tension of its ,biasingspring I I8, and the clutchheld or'permitted to beengaged so long. asthe plunger I4;I remains in its operated position. .In this manner, theperforating cam sleeve I2I may be released for any desired number ofrevolutions which will cause the operation of the perforating mechanismand tape feeding pawls only, since the clutch onthe main cam shaft whichoperates the printing mechanism will remain disengaged. This featureenables feeding the tape through .the machine without operating theprinting unit. As distinguished from this continuous operation of theperforating cam shaft, it is obvious that in the normal operation of theprinting reperforator as a plunger 38-is elevated, the hook portion I39trips the clutch throwout lever II6 for a single revolution of theperforating sleeve. The. printingreperforator is provided with pull baroperatedxcontact Hi9, Fig. 4, which may be selectively operated bypredetermined pull bars to perform anydesir'ed circuit functions.

Sensing unit Associatedwith the hereinbefore described printingreperforator. is a sensing unit II provided-to sense the perforated tapeas it leaves the printing reperforator to control'functions to behereinafter indicated and described- In order to take full advantage ofline time, the sensing or transmitting unit employed with the printingreperforator islof the pivoted or traveling type whichis adapted tosense every code perforation recorded in a tape by the printingreperforator, without the necessity of stepping the perforated tape aplurality: of feeding distances from the perforating unit intothetransmitting or sensing unit.. This pivoted transmitter, isdescribed ingaged with the perforating unit I mechanism.

detail in copending application Serial No. 219,770 filed July 18, 1938by Ross A. Lake and reference may be had to that copending applicationfor the details both in structure and mode of operation of the pivotedtransmitter. The transmitter comprises essentially a plurality ofsensing elements to sense the perforations in a tape, a member forfeeding the tape through the transmitter having imparted to itrectilinear motion, and a cam drum for controlling the operation of thesensing elements and the tape feeding member.

Unit I! has a base casting I5I', Fig. 1, which is removably mounted uponthe base casting 2I of the apparatus. The casting I5I consists of a pairof parallel vertical wall sections I52 interconnected by a relativelyflat web portion I53, Fig. 4. The leftward extremity of portion I53 isformed into a vertical portion I54 which is channeled to serve as ajournal for a shaft I56 and slotted to provide a comb I57 which servesto guide the vertical oscillations of the members which support andoperate the sensing elements. The rightward portion of wall sectionsI52, as viewed in Fig. 1, support pivot studs I58 upon which the movableor pivoted portion of the sensing unit is secured. Specifically, theframe members I59 and I60 are secured to the pivots I58. A plate I6I iscarried by the pivoted frame members and carries ahinge post I62, Fig.2, upon which is hingedly supported a tape gate I63 which in conjunctionWith the plate I6I defines the passage way for the perforated tapethrough the transmitter. A spring latch I64 holds the tape gate incooperating relation with the plate I6I. This structure of thetransmitter is substantially identical with that disclosed in theabove-identified copending application, and reference may be had to thatapplication and particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, for a more detaileddisclosure of the mechanical details of the transmitter frame. Bothplate I6I and the tape gate I63 are pro- .vided with a plurality ofapertures which are in alignment when the tape gate is in cooperativerelation with plate I6I.

Apertures in plate I6I receive the reduced portions of sensing pins I65,Fig. 4. There is provided a sensing pin or finger for each of thepossible perforations appearing in a transverse row of perforations inthe tape, plus an additional pin to be employed as a tape-out indicatorin a manner to be hereinafter described. In the particular apparatusunder consideration there are provided six sensing fingers, inasmuch asit is contemplated to utilize a five-unit code.

A slidably movable feed member I66, Fig. 5, which is formed with a camgroove I6! is provided to feed the tape through thetransmitter inaccordance with a rectilinear feeding movement precisely as hasbeendescribed in great detail in the above-identified copendingapplication Serial No. 219,770 and illustrated in Figs. 9 and 12thereof. In view of the detailed description of this tape feedingmechanism, in'the latter copending application, the apparatus de-'scription and the mode of operation will be set out herein only briefly,and reference should be had to the aforementioned application for a morecomplete understanding of both the structural details and the precisemode of operation of this rectilinearly operable feed mechanism. MemberI66 carries on its upper extremity pins I68 which enter and normallyengage the feed perforations in a tape to advance the tape or advancethe transmitter, depending on which of the two is held'immovable andcooperating with cam groove I 61. in lever I66 is a pin I69 secured tothe free end of a camoperated lever I1I. 1 s As will .be describedhereinafter, members I66 and IN are operated in timed relation, andaslever I.II is drawn downwardly in slot I61, the pin I69 due to theparticular shape of cam groove I61wil1 oscillate-member I66 in acounterclockwise direction to effect relative movement between thepivoted frame of sensing unit I1 and the tape. Following this operation,lever I66 is moved downwardly to withdraw pins I68 from engagement withthe feed perforations in the tape after which arm I1I is moved upwardlyand under the influence of the cam groove, member I66 is moved in aclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5, and the member I66 isthereafter elevated to cause the pins I68 to engage other feedperforations in the tape to achieve on a subsequent cycle, a relativemovement between the sensing unit I1 and the perforated tape.

On the shaft I56 which is supported by the channel I54, Fig. 4, formedin the base casting of the sensing unit are pivotally supported aplurality of Y-levers I12 as well as other levers including thoserequired to control the operation of the members I66 and HI of the tapfeeding mechanism. The Y-levers are individual to the sensing fingers I65 and those fingers are pivotally secured to one arm of the Y-levers ona centerline substantially coincident with the pivots I58. The leftwardportions of the Y-levers are supported in a member I13-secured by screwsI14, Fig. 1, to the vertical wallsections of the base casting of thesensing unit, and member I13 is suitably slotted to provide a comb guidestructure to guide the vertical'operation of the'Y-levers about theshaft I56. Depending from the rightward extremities of the Y-levers, asviewed in Fig. 4, are guide fingers I15 which when the Y-levers arerotated in a clockwise direction about shaft I56 are received-inhorizontal slots I16 of the casting of the sensing unit, which in thismanner guide the oscillating movements of the Y-levers. Each Y-lever isprovided leftwardlyof the shaft I56 as viewed in Fig. 4, with anupstanding projection I18 to which is secured a spring I19 the other endof which is anchored to a spring post I11 carried by member I13, andsprings I19 tend normally to rotate the Y-levers I12 in acounterclockwise direction about shaft I56, and elevate the sensingfingers I65 vertically to sense the perforation in a tape I80 presentedto the transmitter.

It is preferred that the sensing fingers I85 be secured to the Y-leversin the same manner in which the sensing elements I of theaboveidentified copending application Serial No. 219,770 are secured totheir operating bell cranks I48--I52; that is, each sensing finger isprovided near its lower extremity with an aperture arranged to beengaged by a pin secured near the end of the horizontally extending armof the Y- levers. A reed spring riveted to the horizontal arm of theY-lever serves to retain the lower end of the sensing finger andprevents accidental displacements. This described preferred associationof the sensing fingers and Y-levers is not illustrated in the drawingsbut is adequately illustrated in Fig. 2 of the latter copendingapplication.

,Also pivotally supported by shaft I56 is a lever IBI, Fig. 1, which iscam controlled to effect the vertical reciprocation of feed member I66,a lever .I,82-;which controls the operation of lever I1I,- and'theresulting oscillation of member I 66 aboutits pivot, and a lever I83which operates a pair of contacts I84, see:Fig. 2, for a purpose to behereinafter described. V.

A cam drum I86, Fig. 2, carries a plurality of cams which operate, asfollowers, the several levers pivotally supported by shaft I56, andlocated on this cam drum, are a plurality of cams I81, six in number tocontrol the operation of the Y-levers, and the operation of the sixthsensing pin which may be carried by a Y-lever or a bell crank lever, acam I88 to control the operation of contacts I84, a transfer cam I89 fora purpose to be hereinafter described, a cam I90 for controlling theoperation of feed lever I66 through lever I8I, cam I9I for controllingthe operation of feed lever I'I'I through lever I82, and cam I92 forcontrolling the operation of a bail to be identified hereinafter. InFig. 2, the cam drum has been illustrated and the elements of thestructure which would obscure the view of the cam drum have been omittedfor the purpose of giving a clear showingof the drum.

The power for driving cam drum I86 is derived from motor 29 through agrab clutch. Gear I93, Fig. '1, which is continuously rotated by shaftI06 meshes with a gear I94 secured to shaft I06 which is journaled insuitable bearings I91 depending from'the horizontal portion of basecasting 2|. Grab clutch driving element I98 is driven continuouslyfromshaft I96. The driven ele ment I99 of the clutch is-looselysupported on shaft I96, and normally held out of engagementwith'driving' element I98, by means of a clutch throwout lever 20I whichnormally is in engagement with a clutch throwout cam formed on theperipheryof driven element I99, similar to the construction ofdrivenelement II2 of the aforedescribed positive clutch. A compression spring262 normally urges the clutch elements into engagement with one anotherand by means of a splined connection driven element I99 of the clutchimparts rotation to the cam drum I86 when the clutch elements have beenengaged. An electromagnet 203, when energized, retracts the clutchthrowout lever 20I from engagement with the throwout cam on the drivenelement of the clutch and permits engagement of the driving and drivenelements, to rotate the cam drum I86. So long as electromagnet 203remains energized the cam drum will rotate continuously and uponde-energization of the electromagnet the clutch is disengaged after camdrum I86 completes its instant cycle of revolution.

\ The energization of electromagnet 203 is under the joint control of amanually operated switch 204, Fig. 11, and a transmitter operated switch205 so that the operation of the transmitter may be initiated whendesired and terminated automatically upon the operation of thetransmitter as the transmitter senses the last code signal combinationperforated in the tape by the printing reperforator. The manuallyoperated switch 204 may be located within the apparatus or may beexternal to the apparatus as may be best suited for the installation,but the transmitter controlled switch 205 is located within and is partof the apparatus. Frame member I59 of the transmitter structure carriesa rightwardly extending projection 206, Figs. 1 and 4, and when thetransmitter in pivoting about pivots I58 has reached its limitingclockwise position, projection 206 will have been brought down intoengagement with a plunger 201 which is reciprocally mounted within anaperture in the base casting 2| and normally rests upon 'a-contact ofswitch 205 so that as the projection 206 bears against and depressesplunger 201, the plunger in turn depresses and operates the switch 205to break the circuit to the electromagnet 203, and shut down theoperation of cam sleeve I86.

Cams I81 are arranged on cam drum I86 with their respective cam recessesin axial alignment so that a cam recess is presented to each of theY-levers I12 and to the operator of the sixth sensing fingersimultaneously whereby the six sensing fingers are elevated to theirprobing positions simultaneously and. depending upon the presence orabsence of a perforation in the tape over an individual finger into itsrestrained or it extreme counterclockwise position. The recesses of camsI81 are of sufficient length circumferentially of the cam sleeve I86 toretain the fingers I65 in tape probing position ,until the operation ofa transfer mechanism, to be hereinafter described, has been completedand thereafter the cams rotate the fingers simultaneously in a clockwisedirection, retractin them from probing relation with the tapepreparatory to advancing the tape through the transmitter. orientated tooperate, respectively, followers I8I and I82 in precisely the samemanner in which cams 201 and 205 in the above-identified copendingapplication Serial No. 219,770 cooperate, respectively, with theirfollowers I61 and I10, to impart a rectilinear feeding movement tomembers I66 and HI of the transmitting device. Furthermore, cams I90 andI9I are orientated on cam drum I86 with respect to the cams I81, whichoperate the sensing fingers, in the same relation as the feed cams areorientated on the cam drum of the latter above-identified copendingapplication with respect to the cam therein which operates the tapesensing fingers. This orientation is important and necessary to assurethe proper operation of the feeding mechanism for if the feedingmechanism were permitted to operate in other than the timed relation setforth in the above-mentioned copending application with respect to theoperation of the sensing pins, there would result a tearing of the tapeand incomplete transmission.

As has already been mentioned, the motion imparted to the transmitter,through the operation of the pin I69 carried on lever I1I which is inengagement with cam groove I61, imparts a feeding stroke to the tape tofeed the tape through the transmitter, and so long as there is a tapeloop or a tape surplus between the printing reperforator and the tapetransmitter, the tape will be advanced in this manner, but when the tapeis r taut between the reperforator and the transmitter, the operatingmovement of the transmitter will be restrained in a counterclockwisedirection because of the engagement of the pins I68 in the taut tape andwill result in the clockwise movement of the transmitter frame about itspivots I58. This movement of the transmitter will continue so longas thetape remains taut between the transmitter and the reperforator,providing that no stop abutment has been reached and that sleeve I86 ismaintained in operation. IAS may be clearly'seen inFig. 4, the sensingunit I1 is pivoted to oscillate about a vertical center; that is, toeither side of a vertical center. This overeenter travel of thetransmitter requires the inclined feed of the tape through theperforating, punch block, which has been defined in detail above, inorder that there-may be a substantially straight line feed of the tapefrom the reperforatorinto Cams I90 and I9I are the transmitter whenthe;transmitter has as- 7.5.

sumed its most clockwise position; that is, in abutment with the punchblock. The forward or leading surface 69 of the punch block, Fig. .4, iscut back at an inclined angle, inclined to the vertical, to present aplane which is substantially parallel to the position of the transmitterframe when it has engaged the punch block so that there is in effect aplane of contact between the two units. With the transmitter in thisextreme clockwise position, the tape guideway defined by plate I6I andthe tape gate I63 above mentioned, will be in a plane inclined to thevertical necessitating the feed of the tape from the reperforator at asimilar angle so that the tape may feed in one continuous line from thereperforator into the transmitter in thi extreme position.

It is clear from the detailed description of the rectilinear movement ofthe feeding mechanism of the sensing unit, which has been pointed outabove and which is defined in greater detail in the above-identifiedcopending application Serial No. 219,770 that the pins I60 are normallyin engagement with the tape, and it follows that if the printingreperforator operates at a greater rate than the operation of thesensing unit thereby accumulating tape therebetween, the tape willadvance the transmitter in a counterclockwise direction about its pivotI58 until finally the transmitter has reached its extremecounterclockwise position; that is, in abutment with an adjustable limitstop 203, Fig. 4. This adjustable stop is suitably secured to asubstantially U-shaped frame member 209 which spans the sensing unit andis secured thereto by means of screws engaging the vertical wallsections I52 thereof, Fig. 1.

Frame member 209 has a depending portion centrally thereof, whichsecures or supports the stop abutment 208, Fig. 2. A pair of tapesupporting fingers 2, Figs. 1 and 4, are carried by the web portion ofthe frame 209 and extend forwardly of the transmitter unit toward theperforator unit, extending, when the transmitter is in its extremecounterclockwise position against the stop 203, between the spaces whichintervene the first and second, and fifth and sixth tape sensingfingers. Fingers 2 may project between any desired sensing elements ofunit I1. The tape supporting fingers by projecting through the tapesensing unit serve to support the tape and sustain the weight of thetape loop between the tape sensing unit and the tape reperforatorpreventing bending of the tape over plate I6! of the transmitter. Shouldthe tape be supported by the sensing fingers; and the edge of plate I6Iand there be a substantially large tape loop intermediate the tapesensing unit and reperforator, it is possible :for the weight of thetape to bend orsubstantially break the tape at the plate I6I and preventthe feed of the tape through the transmitter. The tape supportingfingers which are provided obviate this danger.

It is to be understood that the tape fingers which are. shown in Fig. 4as being mounted upon the frame 209 may, if desired, be supported by theframe members of the transmitter itself, so that the fingers wouldtravel with the transmitter and support the tape in all positions of thetransmitter. However, with such a construction it would be necessary to'movably mount the fingers on the frame so that upon the framesapproaching'the perforating punch block these fingers could be deflecteddownwardly or otherwise soas not to impede the movementessary for theunit to sense the last code combination perforated in the tape.

The tape I80 as it leaves the sensing unit I1 is supported upon a tapeguide I85, Fig. 4, and directed thereover out of the apparatus. Theguide I85 supported by base casting 2I, extends across the transfermechanism and code vanes, to be described hereinafter, and has beenomitted from the remaining figures of the drawings for the sake ofdisclosing elements of the apparatus which would be obscured by theguide.

A tape deflector 2I2, Figs. 1 and 4, is provided intermediate thesensing unit and reperforator and is pivotally secured to the punchblock of the perforator, Fig. 1, with the rightwardly eX tending arms ofthe deflector 2I2 pivotally supported upon shaft I6 of the reperforatorwhich also supports the stripper elements IT. From the profile in Fig. 4of the tape deflector 2I2, it may be seen that the deflector is ofsubstantially Z-shape in cross section and normally tends to rotate in acounterclockwise direction under the influence of gravity and, ifdesired, a biasing spring. Due to the contour of the deflector, tape asit emerges from the reperforating punch block and abuts against thedeflector is directed downwardly into a depending loop between the re'perforator punch block and the sensing unit. A storage container mayreceive the tape as it accumulates between the units. The tape dcflectoris relatively narrow, Fig. 1, and does not extend throughout its entirelength, across the full width of the tape, but exposes that portion ofthe tape on which is printed the code characters and, accordingly, themessage printed on the tape intermediate the transmitter andreperforator may nevertheless be read even though the tape deflector isin its operative tape loop forming position. The deflector 2I2 may, ifdesired, be rotated over center in a clockwise direction to aninoperative position; that is, out of the path of the tape as it emergesfrom the perforating code punch block. The deflector may be renderedinoperative in this manner when it is necessary to thread the tape,initially through the transmitter.

Extending forwardly of the deflector is a latching finger 2 I 3 whichserves to engage the plate IBI of the transmitter'when the transmitteris in its extreme counterclockwise position, as illustrated in Fig. 4,and renders the transmitter immovable with respect to the perforatingpunch block, so long as there is a sufficiently large'tape loopintermediate the transmitter and reperforator. If, because thereperfcrator unit operated at a greater speed than the transmitter,there is a suffici If the transmitter continues to operate at thegreater rate, the tape loop will become entirely taken up, and in sodoing, the tape will engagethe depending portion of the tape deflector2I2, and as the tape becomes taut it will cam the deflector upwardly,and latching finger ZI3 will be lifted out of the path of thetransmitter so that under the subsequent operation of the rectilinearfeed mechanism of the transmitter, the pivoted transmitter will bepermitted to advance toward the reperforating unit without having itsmovement in this direction impeded in any way by the latching projection2 I 3 of the tape deflector. In Fig. 4 there is indicated in dottedconstruction, the position of the, tape deflector when it has beencammed by the tape in a counterclockwise direction about shaft -76 dueto the tape loop being taken up.

Briefly the operation of the transmitting or sensing unit is as follows:

Assume switch 2&4 to be manually closed and that the transmitter I? isin its extreme clockwise position against the perforator code punchblock. In this condition projection 286 secured to frame member :59 ofthe transmitter, will have depressed plunger 29? and opened switch205,deenergizing the electromagnet 203 and disabling the power drive to thecam drum I86 by reason of the engagement of clutch throwout lever 2M andthe throwout cam on the periphery of the clutch driven element Its.Toward'the completion of a cycle of operation of the printingreperforator in response to received code signals, a perforated codecombination will bemade inthe tape and advanced from the reperforator tothe transmitter, and this advancing movement of the tape, because of thefact that the pins I68 of feed member I56 are in engagement with feedperforations in the tape, will rock the pivoted transmitter in acounterclockwise direction for adistan ce corresponding to the tapefeed, and this movement is sufficient to withdraw projection 296 fromengagement with plunger Z5! and permit the spring element of the switch295 to elevate the plunger and close the switch 295 completing thecircuit to electromagnet 283 which attracts its armature resulting inthe removal of clutch throwout lever 2M from the path of the throwoutcam on the clutch driven element I99, permitting the engagement underthe influence of spring 202 of the elements I93 and I99 of the clutchandconnecting the power drive from motor 29 through to the cam drum iiiii.As cam drum I85 rotates, cams I81 simultaneously present camdepressions.to the ently large, tape loop formed between the two units. thedeflector ZIZ will pivot about its shaft 16 and come into lockingengagement with the transmitter I? which would have been advanced to itsextreme counterclockwise position by reason of the movement of the tapewith respect to the transmitter caused by the operation of thereper-forator "at a greater rate than the operation of thetransmitter.Sensing will then be carried out with the sensing unit held by thelatching finger 213, so long as there remains a sufiiciently large tapeloop intermediate the two units. However, assuming that the sensing unitshould operate at a rate greater than the rate of operation of thereperforator, the tape loop will be shortened as it is fed through thetransmitter at a greater rate than incoming tape is fedafrom thereperforator.

plurality of Y-levers :12 to elevate thesensing fingers I55 into tapeprobing position under the influence of biasing springs I19 individualtoeach Y-lever. If a given Y-lever finds a perforationin a tape, itsassociated spring I19 will be permitted to rotate the Y-lever to itsextreme counterclock wise position about shaft 5 55, positioning theleftward extremity of the Y-lever in the lowermost position in its guidecomb I13 but if a sensing finger I65 does not find a code perforation inthe tape, the counterclockwise rotation of its associated Y-lever isrestrained so that its spring I18 can rotate the Y-lever I12 to a verylimited extent about shaft I5I resulting in a positioning of the Y-leverin an upper position in the guide comb H3. The'relative position of theY-levers, that is, whether the Y-levers remain in a relatively highportion of the guide comb I13, or are positioned in the lower portionofthe guide comb, controlled in accordance with the code perforated inthe tape, is utilized in a manner to be hereinafter described, tocontrol a transmitting distributor and function levers to performswitching operations in accordance with the permutable setting. of theY-levers. As cam drum I86 continues its cycle of rotation, cams I81retract fingers I64 from probing engagement with the tape, cams I90 andI9I, controlling the operation of levers I66 and VIII in a manner abovedescribed, effect a rectilinear feed of member I66 and advance thetransmitter again to its extreme clockwise position to cause projection206 to open switch 205 and interrupt the operation of the transmitting,cam shaft at the completion of the cycle of operation of the sensingunit.

If during the operation of the sensing unit, a second advancement isgiven to the tape and consequently to the sensing unit by the operationof feed wheel 8I in the printing reperiorator, the movement of thetransmitter frame at the completion of the instantcycle of operation ofcam drum I86 will not cause the switch 205 to open and the sensing unitwill continue to operate. If the printing reperforator continues tooperate at a greater rate than the sensing unit, a tape loop will formintermediate the units and the tape deflector 2I2 will be effective tolatch the sensing unit against its counterclockwise stop 208 until thedeflector is cammed out of engagement with the sensing unit by the taperesulting from a subsequent operation of the transmitter at agreater'rate than that of the printing reperforator. With the deflector2| 2 cammed out of the path of the transmitter, the continued operationof the transmitter and its rectilinearly operated feed member I66 willadvance the transmitter toward the printing reperforator and ultimatelyinterrupt the operation of the transmitter by opening switch 205 as thetransmitter is moved into a position to sense the last code perforationin the tape.

Tape-out indicator In Fig. 1, it may be clearly seen that there areprovided six sensing fingers I65 only five of which are employed toprobe the code perforations in the tape as indicated above, the sixthfinger being employed as a tape-out indicator to interrupt the operationof cam drum I86 (Fig. 2) when the tape in the transmitter has becomeexhausted or broken or in response to a special perforation in the tape.The sixth sensing finger may be carried by a Y-lever similar to the Y-levers which carry the code sensing fingers but provided with adepending projection 2i 6, Fig. 4, which. is effective to operatecontacts 2M when the spring I19 associated with the lever carrying thesixth sensing pin, is permitted to rotate that lever in its extremecounterclockwise position aboutshaft I56, moving projection 2I6 toengagement with the contact 2I4. In view of the fact that contact 214 isclosed cyclically upon each rotation of cam drum I86 and is immediatelyreopened, and since the electromagnet 203 should remain de-energizedduring the depletion of tape supply, the contacts 2I4 are connected to acontrol circuit shown in 11. This control circuit forms no part of thepresent invention but is illustrated only for the purpose of showing therelation between contacts 2M and clutch magnet 203. The control circuitshown in Fig. 11 is described and claimed in copending applicationSerial No. 448,878, filed by D. E. Branson et a1. Briefly, however, themomentary closing of contact 2I4 efiects the energization of magnet 250over an obvious circuit,

which is locked up over an obvious locking circuit. The circuit for awarning lamp is closed, and the circuit of the clutch magnet 203 isopened due to the operation of armatures of magnet 250. By the closingof manually operated contact 204, the lockin circuit of magnet 250 isbroken and the reenergization of clutch magnet 203 is effected. However,instead of employing a Y-lever to support the sixth finger, a pivotedlever pivoted about shaft I55 and supporting at its rightward extremity,Fig. 4, a sensing pin I65 associated therewith in a manner similar tothe association of the fingers I65 with the Y-levers and terminating atits leftward extremity in a simple cam follower 25? may be provided. Itis, of course, understood that the contact operating projection 216would be carried by such lever when that lever is employed rather thanthe Y-lever for supporting the sixth pin.

The sixth sensing pin or tape-out pin will be permitted to be rockedinto its extreme counterclockwise position to operate contacts 2 whenthe tape is exhausted or broken. If it is desirable to arrest theoperation of transmitter I! at a predetermined point, a specialperforation may be made in the tape in alignment with the sixth sensingpin so that as this special perforation is presented in the transmitterover the sixth pin, that pin in moving to tape probing position willsense the special perforation and interrupt the operation of thetransmitter at this predetermined point.

Tape feed suppression Under certain conditions of operation ofcommunication systems in which the apparatus according to this inventionmay be employed, it may be desirable to sense and transmit the sameperforated code combination a plurality of times and for that purpose, atape feed suppression means is provided which, when operated, disablesthe operation of the tape feeding mechanism in the transmitter so thatas the cam drum I65 effects a plurality of operations of the 'sensingunit, the unit will sense one code combination in the tape a pluralityof times. In Fig. 5, the details of the tape suppression device areillustrated. The device comprises a tape suppression magnet 2I8 whichmay be energized by any local, manually closed circuit or relay operatedcircuit, not shown, a pivoted armature 2I-9 provided with a laterallyextending-blocking projection 220 and projections 22I and 222 providedon follower levers I8I and I82, respectively, of the tape feedingmechanism. A spring 223 extending between the base casting 2| of theapparatus and armature 2I9 normally holds the armature in itscounter-clockwise position about its pivot 224 out of engagement withprojections 22I and 222.

When it is desired to operate the tape suppression device, the circuitto magnet 2 I8 is manually conditioned, energizing the magnet whichattracts its armature, rocking the armature in a clockwise directionabout pivot 224 introducing the blocking projection 220 of armature 2I9into blocking relation with respect to projections 22I and 222 on feedlevers I8I and I82, respectively, holding the members I8I and I82 of thefeed mechanism from responding to the influence of their respectivebiasing springs when a depression in their cams I and I9I, respectively,is presented to the cam followers secured to levers I8! and I82.Accordingly, as cam drum I36 continues this cycle of revolution, thecams I90 and. I9I are ineffective upon the feed levers I66 and HI sincetheir operating levers I8I and I82, respectively, are held nonresponsiveto the control of said cams. Therefore, as cam drum I86 is. rotatedthrough a plurality of revolutions it causes the sensing elements I65under'the control of cams I61 to sense the. same code combination of thetape a plurality of times.

Transfer mechanism and transmitting distributor The sensing unit, in themanner described above senses thesuccessive code perforations in thetape as the tape passes from the printing reperforator to the sensingunit, and in each sensing operation positions the Y-levers I12 in guidecomb I13 in accordance with the code combination sensed; that is, theY-levers are permutably positioned in the upper or lower portions of theguide slots in comb I13 in accordance with theextent of thecounterclockwise rotation of the Y-levers under the influence of theirbiasing springs I19 as controlled by the perforations in the tape. Thepermutable setting of the Y- levers I 12 is transferred through atransfer mechanism to control the contacts of a cam type transmitterdistributor I8, Figs. 2 and 3, which redistributes or retransmits thereceived and recorded code signal combinations.

The transfer mechanism is supported by a pair of depending structuralelements depending from base casting 2|. These elements 226 and 221,Figs. 1 and 4, are provided with pivot studs 228 to which is pivotallyarticulated a yoke frame which carries the transfer levers and whichcomprises a pair of vertical arms 229 and 23I interconnected by ahorizontally disposed member 232. A horizontally disposed pivot shaft233, Fig. 4, extends between the upper portions of vertical framemembers 229 and 23I of the transfer frame and there is mounted on theshaft a plurality of transfer levers 234 which are substantially T-shaped and suitably spaced horizontally along shaft 233 by means ofspacing discs 235. The upper and lower extremities of the verticalsections of T-levers 234 face the fork elements of the Y-levers I12,Fig. 4, and when the Y-levers are positioned in the upper portion of theslide groove of comb I13, the upper tines of the Y-levers are insubstantial alignment with the upper extremities of the T-levers and,conversely, when the Y- levers are positioned in the lower portion ofthe comb, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the lower tines are in substantialalignment with the lower extremities of the T-levers.

In order to transfer the permutable setting of the Y-levers to thetransfer levers, the frame of the transfer mechanism is pivotallysupported as described above, and cam I89, Figs. 2 and 4, which isincluded in cam. drum I86, operates upon a cam follower 236, Figs. 1 and4, formed as a projection on the member 229 of the frame of the transfermechanism. A biasing spring (not shown) operates normally to hold thetransfer frame in its counterclockwise position, but the operation ofcam I89 on cam follower 236 is sufficient to overcome this spring biasand rotate the transfer frame and the T-levers 234 into a clockwiseposition in which the terminals of the T-levers come into abuttingrelation with the tines of the Y-levers in accordance with thepermutable setting of the Y-levers, and this engagement of the T-leverswith the Y-levers rocks the T-levers in a clockwise or counterclockwisedirection about shaft 233 and transfers, in this manner, the'setting ofthe Y-levers to the T-levers.

Mor particularly, if a. Y-lever is assumed to be in its lower positionin comb I13, in response to its associated sensing finger I65 entering acode perforation in the tape under the influence of its biasing springI19, when the cam I89 operates the transfer mechanism in timed relationto the probing of the tape under the control of cams I 81, it will bringthe T-lever associated with the particular Y-lever toward the Y-lever,the lower tine of which will engage the lower extremity of the verticalsection of the T-lever 234, and through this engagement will rock theT-lever 234 in a clockwise direction about shaft 233. Conversely, whenthe Y-lever is in its upper position in the comb I13 due to the failureof its finger I65 to enter a perforation in the tape, when theassociated T-lever is brought into engagement with the Y-lever, theupper tine of the Y-lever will engage the upper extremity of thevertical section of the T-lever and in this engagement rock the T-leverin a counterclockwise direction about shaft 233. The transfer of thesetting of the individual Y-levers to the associated individual T-leverstakes place simultaneously and after it has taken place, the returnspring on the transfer mechanism is effective under the control of camI89 to rotate the transfer mechanism, and the T-levers in theirpermutable relation with respect to one another, to their normal orcounterclockwise position and, in this manner, free the plurality ofY-levers which may then be returned to their normal position by cams I81retracting the fingers I65 from engagement with the perforated tape,preparatory to the sensing of a subsequent code combination. When thetransfer mechanism is returned to normal, it maintains control over atransmitting distributor to transmit the signal combination transferredfrom the Y-levers and during this transmission, cam drum I86 initiatesanother cycle of the sensing unit, setting the Y-levers in accordancewith the following code signal combination recorded in the tape, therebyproviding signal overlap between the sensing unit and transfermechanism.

There is associated with each T-lever a code vane 24I, Figs. 1 and 4,and this association is through a member 242 affixed to each code vaneand provided at its rightward extremity as viewed in Fig. 4, with abifurcation to which is slidably articulated the leftward extremity ofthe associated T-lever. Each code vane 24! is pivotally supported ateach of its extremities upon pivot post 243, Fig. 2, mounted in avertically extending support plate 244 carried upon the base casting 2Iof the apparatus. There are as many pivoted code vanes provided as thereare T-levers, one vane being associated with one T-lever in theabove-described manner. In this particular embodiment of the invention,wherein it is contemplated to employ a five-unit code, there areprovided five Y-levers, five T-levers and five pivoted code vanesmutuall associated with one another. The code vanes 24I (Fig. 2) extendfrom the front to the rear and at one side of the printing telegraphapparatus to provide a compact unitary structure, and at its leftwardextremity, Fig. 2, each code vane is provided with a blocking lever 248to control the transmitting contacts of cam type distributor I8.

Cam type distributor I8, Figs. 2 and 3, comprises a cam drum 241 uponwhich are mounted the five code impulse controlling cams and thestart-stop controlling 'cam, as is well known in the art, and describedwith particularity in PatentNo. 1,595,472 to Krum, Cam drum 24'! isloosely mounted on shaft 248 which-receives its driving power from shaftI66, Fig. 4, which carries gear 249 meshing with a gear 25[ secured toshaft 248. A grab or positive clutch comprising a driving element 252,-Fig. 2, secured to shaft 248 and a driven portion 253 rotatably mouuntedupon shaft 248- and controlled by clutch throwout lever 254 is providedto connect the power from shaft 248, through the grab clutch, to camdrum 241 when magnet 256 is energized, retracting the clutchthroughoutlever 254 from engagement withthe cam on the peripheral portion ofclutch element 253 permitting engagement of the elements of the grabclutch in a manner referredto hereinbefore in connection with anothersimilar grab clutch construction. Shaft 248 is suitably journaled nsupports provided in the base casting 2I, one of which isillustrated at251. I

Associated with the cam drum 24'! are a plurality of levers 258, Fig. 3,pivoted on a shaft 259 and operated by camson cam drum 241 whenpermitted to move by the blocking levers 246 to control the operation oftransmitting contacts 260 associated with a telegraph line (not shown).

In Fig. 3 the levers 258 and cam drum 241 are illustrated, and from thatView it may be seen that the horizontally extending portion of eachlever 258 comprises a cam following element 258 and a verticallyextending blocking projection 26I. A spring (not shown) individual toeach lever 253 tends normally to rotate each lever in a clockwisedirection about pivot 259, When cam drum 241 is permitted to rotate dueto the energization of magnet 256, the code impulse controlling cams,successively present cam depressions to the cam followers 259 and inresponse thereto, the biasing springs rotate the levers in a clockwisedirection to close the associated contact 256 if the blocking lever 246associated with the particular lever 258 is in its counter-clockwiseposition, as illustrated in Fig. 3, due to the counterclockwise positionof its respective code vane, under the control of the T-levers. If acode vane has been conditioned in its clockwise position by its T-lever,the blocking lever 246 carried by that code vane will be positioned inits clockwise position or into abutting relation with the blockingprojection 26I of the lever 258 associated therewith, and when the camrecess is presented to the cam follower 250 of that lever, the clockwiserotation of the lever is restrained through the engagement of theblocking lever 246 with the blocking extension 26I, preventing theclosure of the cam operated contacts 260 associated with that particularlever.

The energization of electromagnet 256 is under the control of cam I88 oncam sleeve I86 of the sensing unit which, through the orientation of camI88 on the sleeve, releases the distributor shaft 248 to drive the camsleeve 24! in timed relation to the sensing and transfer of the codecombinations in the tape Cam I88 operates a bell crank I83, Fig. 1,pivoted on shaft I56 to close contacts I34, Fig. 2, which complete asimple energizing circuit (not shown) to the electromagnet 256 in eachcycle of revolution of the sensing unit cam drum I86 to cause the grabclutch 252253 in the transmitting distributor unit to be engaged for a,single cycle of revolution.

The grab clutch driving the distributor cam drum 241. maybe-mechanically released, rather than electromagnetically; ifsuchrelease is desired. The mechanism for this operation of the clutchis indicated in dotted construction in Fig. 3 and comprises a sixthpivoted code vane which would be operated by'bell crank I83 under thecontrol of cam I88 to move a pivoted bell crank 282, secured to thesixth code vane, in a clockwise direction to engage a cam section 263provided on. the horizontally extending portion of clutch throwout lever254, and pivot the clutch throwout lever 254 in a counterclockwisedirection, removing the lever from engagement with the throwout cam onthe driven element of the grab clutch.

The operation of the transfer mechanism and the transmitting distributorbriefly is as follows:

In timed relation to the setting of the Y-levers I'I2, cam I89 operatesto move the transfer mechanism including the transfer T-levers 234 totheir clockwise position and permutably set the T- levers in theirclockwise or counterclockwise position about shaft 233 in accordancewith the engagement of the T and Y levers; that is, by engagement withthe lower extremities of the T-levers, the levers are rotated in aclockwise direction in response to a marking impulse indicated in theperforated tape and, conversely, are rotated in a counterclockwisedirection in response to the spacing impulse indicated in the tape.Through their association With the connecting links 242 the code vaneswill be correspondingly conditioned in a permutable settingcorresponding to that setting which has been transferred to the T-leversfrom the Y-levers and in this setting the T-levers which have beenrotated in a clockwise direction, rotate their associated pivoted codevanes in a counterclockwise direction and, conversely, those T-leverswhich are positioned in a counterclockwise direction condition theircode vanes in a clockwise position. Correspondingly, the blocking levers246 are moved respectively out of and into engagement with the blockingprojections 26I on the levers 258. Those code vanes 24I which have beenpositioned in a counterclockwise direction in response to a markingimpulse rotate their blocking levers out of engagement with the blockingprojection 26I on their associated levers 258 permitting the contactscontrolled by those levers to be closed under the control of the camdrum 241, to initiate a marking impulse. Conversely, the pivoted codevanes 24I which have been moved in a clockwise direction in response tospacing impulses, position the blocking levers 246 into blockingrelation with their levers 258, to prevent the closure of the contacts260 asso ciated with those levers and thus initiate a spacing impulse.In this manner, the code combination, sensed by the sensing unit andtransferred to the code vanes by the transfer mechanism, is set up inthe transmitting distributor and retransmitted.

Automatic switching mechanism In order to effect automatic switching orany of the various functions which it may be desired between successivebell cranks. For the purpose of effecting switching operations, contacts21! associated with communication channels are suitably supported in aposition to be operated by the vertical arms of bell cranks 266 asillustrated in Fig. 4. Each function bell crank 266 is provided with abiasingspring 212 tending to rock th bell crank about its pivoted shaft261 in a clockwise directionto operate the contact pair associatedtherewith.

Each function bell crank is provided with code notches 213 which respondto the permutable setting of the code vanes 2M to enable selectiveoperation of the bell cranks'in response to received code signalcombinations. That is, for a given permutable setting of code vanes 22!,there would respond for operation a selected bell crank 268, thatselected bell crank being the one which carries on its coded surface thecode corresponding to the permutable setting of the code vanes 24L Whena bell crank is thus selected, its biasing spring 212 is effective torotate the bell crank in a clockwise direction and operate through itsvertical arm the associated contacts 2'.

A selected function bell crank 265, selected in response to the settingof vanes 24!, is restored to its counterclockwise position against thetension of itsbiasing spring by a cam I92 on cam drum I86 atthecompletion of the instant cycle of operation which is ample time toaccomplish the selected switching operation. For this purpose, a shaft3lB, Fig. 1, is rovided extending parallel to vanes 24! and suitablysupported benath the horizontal portion of main casting 2|.

A bail 31! extending transversely of and benea h function bell cranks266 is pivotally supported by shaft 3l'6 and has a cam followingprojection 3|8, Fig. 4, operated by cam [92. Near the completion of eachcycle of cam drum I86, cam I92 operates follower 3l8, rocking bail 311in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, and moves all bell cranks2B6to an extreme counterclockwise position, away from vanes 24l, freeingthe vanes for the next permutational setting. In the following cycle ofoperation, after cam drum I85 has caused a succeeding permutationalsettin to be transferred to vanes 24!, cam )2 permits a restoring spring3| 9 to rotate bail 311 in a counterclockwise direction freeing all ofthe bell cranks266 to rock on shaft 261 and probe the new setting of thevanes 24l resulting in a selected operation of the bell cranks andassociated switching contacts.

A cognizance device, illustrated in detail in Figs. 9 and 10, isprovided to render the function levers 2B3 responsive to the codesetting of the codevanes 24l only when it is desired to performswitching or other functions and to render the switching function leversnonresponsive to the permutable setting of the code vanes at all othertimes. The cognizance device comprises a plurality of selectivelyoperable control bars which must be properly conditioned to render thefunction bell cranks-28B responsive to the permutable setting of thecode vanes 24!. Referring more particularly to Fig. 9, the control bars214 and 216, are supported by a frame member 211, which in turn issupported in any suitable manner '(not shown) to the base casting 2|.The control bars 214 and 216 are slidably supported upon pins 218, 219,and 28!! which are mounted in the frame member 211 projectingthroughslotted apertures 28! in the control bars, Codebars 2,1,4 and 21%extend transverselyof and beneath the function bell cranks 266 andnormally present blocking projections 282 to each of the function bellcranks which prevent the clockwise rotation of the bell cranks under thecontrol of their springs 212 in response to the permutable setting ofthe code vanes 24i. However, each control bar 214 and 216 is providedwith notches 283 which, when the control bars have been operated in apredetermined manner, will be positioned beneath the function bellcranks 26E rendering the bell cranks responsive to subsequent operationsof the code vanes 24!.

Pivotally supported on pm 218 is a bell crank 284 one arm of whichisprovided with a bifurcation to engage a pin 285 secured to code bar214. Similarly, bell crank 286 is pivotally supported on pin 219 and onearm of the bell crank engages a pin 281 incode bar 219. A third bellcrank 288 is pivotally supported on pin 28!] and one of its arms engagesa pin 289 which extends from .control bar 214 through control bar 215. Aplurality of control function levers indicated 29!, 252, and 293 isprovided for operating the bell cranks 284, 286, and 288 to effect theresponsiveness of the switching function levers 255 to the permutablesetting of the code vanes 241. Although any particular function leversof the groupindicated 266 may be employed to condition the control bars21 4 and 216, specific ones to be identified presently have beenselected in this embodiment of .the invention. Control function lever.29! is the Fig. function lever, control function lever 292 is the shiftH function lever and control function lever 293 is the letters functionlever. When the function levers 296 are held from responding to thepermutable setting of the code vanes 24!, control bars 214 and 215 arepositioned in their leftward position as viewed, in Fig. 10, presentinga blocking tooth 282 beneath each of the, function control leversexclusive of the Figs. function lever 29l and letters function lever293. In this condition of the cognizance device, control function lever292, the shift H function lever, has a blocking projection 282 on thecontrol bar 214 positioned beneath it. When it is desired to perform aswitching or other function through the agency of the function bellcranks 266, the signal combination toselect the Figs. function lever isset up from the perforated tape in the code vanes 24! in response towhich control function lever 29l is selected and operated about pivot261 into its extreme clockwise position, as viewed in Fig. 4, sincethere is a notch in thecontrol bars 214' and 216, beneath thisparticular bell crank. In assuming its most clockwise position, lever29l depresses bell crank 234 rocking it in a counterclockwise direction,as viewed in Fig. 10, about pin 218, and accordingly, the bifurcatedportion of the bell crank through its engagement with pin 285 shiftsrightwardly the first control bar 214. This positionment of control bar214, presents a notch under control function lever 2 92, asindicated inFig. 10, so that control function lever 292 may be operated, but thepathjof the remaining function levers 256, other than the controlfunction levers 291, 292, and 233, are blocked due to the leftwardposition of control bar 216.

Following this step in preparing the operation of the function levers266, the shift H function lever code. combinationis set upin the codevanes 24I bycontrol exercised from the perforated tape which selects thecontrol function lever 1292 which mayoperatebecauseof the Shiftedpsition of the first control bar 214. In selectingandoper- 'ing signalcombinations,

ing signal combinations, the letters function sigating control functionlever 292, bell crank 235 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, asviewed in Fig. 10, and through the engagement of the bell crank 286 withpin 28! the second code bar 216 is shifted ina rightward direction whichremoves the remaining blocking projections 2532 from beneath thefunction levers 266 and in this condition the cognizance device permitsselective operation of the control or switching function levers 269 inresponse to subsequent code signal combinations set up in the controlvanes by the perforated tape.

When the required switching or other functions have been accomplishedthrough the code combinations set up in vanes 24l subsequent to thefinal conditioning of the cognizance device, the letters selectioncombination is set up in the code vanes which operates the controlfunction lever 293. In operating, control function lever 293 rotatesbell crank 288 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 10, andthrough its engagement with pin 289 which extends between both controlbars slides both the control bars in a leftward direction disabling thefunction levers 266 from responsiveness to the subsequent permutablesettings of the code vanes, until the cognizance device has again beenoperated in the above-described predetermined sequence.

Although there has been disclosed a cognizance device including only twocontrol bars, it is to be understood that the system is very flexibleand may be enlarged to accommodate any switching requirement by merelyadding more control bars to the cognizance device, and having eachcontrolled through the permutable setting of the others, in a mannersimilar to the one in which control bar 216 is controlled through thesetting of the first control bar 214. The number of control barsrequired in the cognizance device will be determined, of course, by thecomplexity of the system in which the particular apparatus is employed.

In order to utiliz the automatic switching mechanism, the substation atwhich a message is to be originated, transmits in sequence, the Figs.signal combination and the shift H signal combination followedimmediately by switch- Following the switchnal combination istransmitted after which the message signal combinations may betransmitted. At the receiving station these signals are received,recorded, and stored in a tape, transferred to the transmittindistributor and automatic switching mechanism to first condition theswitching mechanism for operation, selectively operate it,;' and disableit in sequence. The switching signals preceding the message signals mayset up any desired switching combinations for signal distribution.

Back spacing mechanism A back spacing mechanism is provided for theprinting reperforator, Fig. 8, comprising an operating lever 296pivotally supported on a stud 29'! mounted on the reperforator casting61, a back spacing pawl 298 and a back spacing ratchet 299. The backspacing pawl 2 98 is pivotally supported on a pin 31H mounted in theleftward extremity of the back spacing lever 296, and is normally urgedin a. clockwise direction by a spring 302 secured'to a pin 303 on theback spacinglever 296 and a spring post projecting from the pawl 293. Alimiting pin 304 limits the clockwise rotation of the feed pawl. Theback spacing ratchet 299 is secured to shaft 82, Fig. 2, upon which ismounted feed wheel 8!. A thumb nut 300 on the extremity of shaft 82 isprovided for the manual, adjustment of the tape; that is, to provide formanually advancing the tape in either a forward or back spacing motion.A pin 395, Fig. 1, projects at right angles from the forward extremityof the back spacing lever 296 extending transversely of the reperforatorinto engagement with the feed pawl 83 and is operable in the customarymanner to disengage the feed pawl 83 from feed ratchet 84 when the backspacing lever 296 is rotated in a clockwise direction to effect a backspacing movement.

When there is a tape loop between the tape sensing unit and the printingreperforator, the back spacing mechanism operates in a manner similar toany back spacing mechanism well known in the art; that is, the backspacing lever 29% is operated about pivot 29'! which reciprocates theback spacing pawl 298 in a vertical plane and on the upward stroke ofthe pawl it engages the back spacing ratchet 299, stepping ratchet 299in a clockwise direction which results in a similar rotation beingimparted to shaft 82 and feed wheel 8| to back space the tape. Duringthe back spacing operation, the blades '75 carried by stripper pins 14are in the tape path and in horizontal alignment with rows ofperforations, serving to engage the lids of the lidded apertures in thetape and cam them downwardly into the web of the tape to facilitatepassage of the tape through guideway 13 in the code punch block. Thetape gate I03 of the sensing unit is slotted to receive blades 15 as thesensing unit approaches its extreme clockwise position, in abutment withthe code punch block.

As has been carefully described in copending application Serial No.274,796 identified in connection with the above description of thesensing unit, the mechanism in the sensing unit for feeding the tapethrough the sensing unit is provided with tape feeding teeth whichnormally engage the feed perforations in the tape and accordingly, whenthe tape is back spaced or moved from the sensing unit back to theprinting reperforator in the back spacing operation, the tape tends tocarry the sensing unit with it. If the back spacing operation is notterminated when the transmitter has been drawn by the tape back intoengagement with the perforating punch block, the continued operation ofthe back spacing device will cause a tearing of the tape due to theengagement of the feeding teeth of the feed member in the pivotedtransmitter with the feed perforations in the tape.

In order to disable the back spacing operation and save the tape whenthe pivoted transmitter has reached approximately its most clockwiseposition, a projection 306, Figs. 1 and '7, carried by frame member 50of the pivoted transmitter operates to disable the back spacingmechanism. A disabling lever 301, Figs. 7 and 8, is piv otally supportedon a pin 308 secured to the reperforator punch block 61 and the levercarries at its lower extremity a pin 309 extending across the backspacing pawl 298, Fig. 7. Normally the lever 30'! is confined betweenthe back spacing pawl 298 in one direction and a pin 3l0 secured to thepunch block in the opposite direction resulting in a substantiallyvertical positioning of the lever 3M during the normal operation of theback spacing device. Projection 39B carried on frame member I60 of thepivoted transmitter is in alignment withthe pivoted'lever 301 and as thepivoted transmitter is moved by the tape in a continuous series of backspacing operations, the projection 306 is brought into abutting relationwith pivoted lever 301. Upon the next back spacing operation the pawl298 will be in the dotted position illustrated in Fig. 8, when itengages the ratchet to rotate it in a clockwise direction to eifect backspacing and in this position, pin

309 is opposite the recess portion 3| I of pawl 298 and upon thecompletion of that particular back spacing operation, the frame memberI60 of the pivoted transmitter Will rotate'member 301 in a clockwisedirection moving pin 309 into the recess 3 so that when the back spacinglever 296 is released andpawl 29B islowered the pin 309, being held in aclockwiseposition by the engagement of projection 306 on the transmitterframe 160, will cam the back spacing pawl 298 in' a counterclockwisedirection out of alignment with ratchet 299. Subsequent back spacingoperations are thereby rendered ineffective.

On subsequent operations of the printing reperforator which impart aforward feeding stroke to the tape, the transmitter as explained above,

is rocked in a counterclockwise direction about its pivots I58withdrawing the projection 306 from engagement with the pivoted lever30'! and the pawl 298 is effective then through its return spring 332 torotate lever 30'! in a counterclockwise direction until it'engages thelimiting stop 3). In this position of thepawl 298, the back spacingmechanism is again conditioned to efiect backspacing of the tape untilthe pivoted transmitter is brought into its final clockwise positionagainst the printing reperforator.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been disclosed inthe drawings and described in the specification, it is to be understoodthat-the invention is not limited to such specific embodiment but may bemodified and rearranged without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a telegraph apparatus, means for applying record indicia to arecord strip, a record sensing apparatus in juxtaposition with saidindicia applying means and rotatable theretoward, and

. a tape loop former to direct the tape in a predetermined path betweensaid indicia applying means and said sensing apparatus, said tape loopformer provided with means for preventing under predetermined operatingconditions rotation toward said indicia applying means.

2. In a telegraph apparatus, the combination of a recording mechanism torecord indicia on a strip, a record sensing mechanism to sense thestrip, said sensing mechanism being in juxtaposie tion with said indiciarecording mechanism and movable relative thereto, and a tape deflectorto form the tape into a loop between said indicia recording mechanismand said sensing mechanism and operable to render said sensing mechanismimmovable with respect to said recording mechanism when the tape loop isgreater than a predetermined size.

3. A telegraph apparatus comprising a recording mechanism to recordindicia on a tape, a sensing mechanism to sense the indicia recorded onthe tape, means for moving one'of said mechanisms with respect to theother so that said sensing mechanism may sense every indicia recorded onthe tape, and means interposed between said mechanisms to direct thetape between said mechanisms into a loop and to render said mechanismsimmovable with respect to one another when said loop is greater than apredetermin ed size.

4. In a telegraph apparatus, means to record characters on a tape, meansto sense recorded characters, said recording and sensing means being injuxtaposed relation and movable with respect to one another, and meansto direct the tape into a loop form intermediate the recording andsensing means and to render said recording and sensing means immovablewith respect to one another when said loop has exceeded a predeterminedsize, said tape directing means being operated by the tape when the loopis less than a predetermined size to render said recording and sensingmechanism movable with respect to one another. V

5. A telegraph apparatus comprising a recording mechanism to recordmessages on a tape, a sensing mechanism to sense recorded messages, saidmechanisms being in juxtaposed relation and movable with respect to oneanother, and a tape deflector to direct tape into a loop between saidmechanisms and movable into blocking relation with said mechanisms whenthe loop exceeds a predetermined size and movable out of blockingrelation with said mechanisms when the loop is less than a predeterminedsize.

6. A telegraph apparatuScOmpriSing in combination a recording mechanismto record message signals on a tape, a sensing mechanism to sense thetape, said sensing mechanism being in juxtaposed relation and movablewith respect to said recording mechanism, and a blocking lever pivotallysupported on said recording mechanism and extending towards the sensingmechanism, said blocking lever being responsive to the tape intermediatethe recording and sensing mechanisms to control the movability of saidsensing mechanism.

'7. A telegraph transmitter comprising a plurality of sensing elementsfor sensing indicia on a control strip, a cam shaft for operating saidsensing elements cyclically, a feeding means for advancing the controlstrip through said transmitter, a feed cam on said cam shaft foroperating said feeding means cyclically, and means operable to rendersaid feeding means nonresponsive to the operation of said feed camwhereby a signal may be repeated a plurality of times by saidtransmitter.

8. A telegraph transmitter including a plurality of sensing elements forsensing indicia on a control strip, transmitting contacts, conditionedby said elements in accordance with the indicia on the strip, a feedingmechanism to advance the strip cyclically through said transmitter,means to impart a rectilinear movement to said feeding mechanism, powerdriven means to operate said sensing elements and said feedingmechanism, and means to remove said feeding mechanism from operativerelation with said power driven means to cause said transmitter torepeat one signal a plurality of times.

9. A telegraph apparatus comprising in combination a recording mechanismto record indicia on a control tape, a sensing mechanism to sense theindicia on the tape, said sensing mechanism being in juxtaposed relationwith respect to said recording mechanism, one of said mechanisms beingmovable with respect to the other, means to advance the tape from therecording mechanism to the sensing mechanism, means to back space thetape, and means to disable said back spacing means when the tape sectionintermedimeans to disable the back-spacing mechanism when said sensingmechanism is within a predetermined distance of said recordingmechanism.

11. In a telegraph apparatus the combination of a recording mechanism torecord indicia on a tape, a tape sensing mechanism movable by the tape,means to feed the tape from said recording to said sensing mechanism,means to back space the tape, and means controlled by said sensingmechanism to disable said back spacing means.

12. In a telegraph apparatus, a mechanism to record indicia on a tape,mechanism to sense indicia on the tape, said sensing mechanism being injuxtaposed relation with and movable with respect to said recordingmechanism, a plurality of sensing elements in said sensing mechanism tobe cyclically moved into probing relation with the tape, and meanscontrolled by a predetermined one of said sensing elements to interruptthe operation of said sensing mechanism in response to a predeterminedcondition of the tape.

13. A telegraph apparatus comprising in combination a recordingmechanism to, record mes sage signals on a tape, a sensing mechanism tosense the tape, said sensing mechanism being in juxtaposed relation andmovable with respect to said recording mechanism, and a blocking leverassociated with said recording mechanism and extending towards thesensing mechanism, said blocking lever being responsive to the tapeintermediate the recording and sensing mechanisms to control themovability of said sensing mechamsm.

, 14. In combination in a perforator-transmitter apparatus, aperforating mechanism for recording messages in a tape, a pivotedtransmitter comprising a plurality of tape-probing elements, saidtransmitter being in juxtaposed relation to and movable with respect tosaid perforating mechanism, tape feeding means in said transmitter, atape guiding means in said transmitter associated with said tape feedingmeans, a tape loop forming instrumentality operably interposed betweensaid perforating mechanism and said transmitter and effectiveautomatically after a predetermined rotation of said transmitter toinitiate a. depending loop therebetween, and a plurality of supportingmembers adapted to be threaded between certain ones of said tape probingelements to provide with said perforating mechanism spaced abutments forsaid tape loop whereby during tape loop formation the introduction ofthe tape into said tape guiding means is facilitated and mutilation ofthe tape by said tape feeding means is obviated.

ROSS A. LAKE.

